Control apparatus



Dec. 19, 1939. E. c. RANEY 2,183,97

CONTROL APPARATUS I Filed Dec. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR mmzelf ATTORNEY I E. c. RANEY CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Da s. 18, 1936 Dec. 19, 19 39.

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Dec. 19, 1939. v c. RAN EY 2,183,973

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. .18, 1936 s sheeis shqetfi ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1939 4 UNITED STATES CONTROL APPARATUS Estel C. Raney, Columbus, hio,assignor to Banco, Incorporated, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 18, 1936, Serial No. 116,633 1 5 Claims.

- My present invention relates to electrical ,control circuits and more particularly to thermally controlled circuits for use with fluid fuel systems and also to the thermal controls for use 5 in said circuits.

One of the objects of myinvention is to provide an automatic temperature control system for a fuel feeding apparatus, forexample, oilburning equipment, which system utilizes a transformer relay that is responsive to a thermostat for controlling the motor-blower oil feed to the burner; a stack control, is also provided for the system-to check the ignition of the burner after the thermostat has closed the control circuit. Another object is to provide a control system including an automatically operated thermal responsive circuit breaker having electrically operated heating. means associated therewith and a control for the heating means, which latter control varies the efiect of the heating meansin response to the conditions of the system.

A further object is'to provide'an automatic system particularly applicable to a fluid fuel apparatus, which includes a thermal responsive g5 circuit breaker that is associated with a plurality of heating coils, one of the heating coils being capable of actuating the circuit breaker within a predetermined time period while the other coil is incapable of actuating the breaker, the latter merely being used for preheating the thermal element of the breaker so that it will be in condition for substantially instant operation; the-- energization of the heating coils is controlled by a switch that is.responsive to combustion con-- ditions of the device'and being controlled so that the high temperature heating coil is energized only when combustion is not established, while the low heat coil is energized when combustion is established.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device for igniting the fuel supply and to also provide a timing control for said igniting device so that the device is only operative for a predetermined 'period during the starting function of the system. In carrying out the above object, it is a still further object to provide a plurality of circuits including an interlocking circuit or holding circuit which, in the event of current failure,

, is interrupted to cause the motor blower .to remain de-energized until the timing control has again completed the ignition circuit.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference' being hadto the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing a fuel control system employing one type of thermal circuit breaker in circuitwith a transformer re- 5 lay, room thermostat and stack control switch;

Fig. 2 is a circuit similar to the one shown in Fig. 1 witha current and ambient temperature compensated device substituted for the circuit m breaker, and,

Fig. 3 is a circuit-similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, with the addition of an ignition circuit and control device therefor.

One embodiment of the fuel control circuit is shown in Fig. l, where electrical energy is supplied by power lines 20 and 22. Thewires 20 and 22 connect directly to a primary winding 24 of' a transformer relay 26 to constantly energize the same. The relay 26 has an iron core 28, prefer- 20 ably an A-shape, with two downwardly extended legs 30 and 32. A cross-bar 34 extends between the two leg portions 30 and 32 about midway up the legs. A secondary winding 36 is wound around the connecting bar 34. The secondary 25 36 is connected by a wire 38 to a room. thermostat 40 and by wire'42 to a contact 44 of a thermal responsive circuit breaker 46.

The thermostat 40 is connected by a wire 48 to a movable contact element 50 of a stack control or combustion switch 52. The control 52, which. in the preferred form includes a snap acting switch, is positioned so that it is responsive to temperature changes within the stack, ,or combustion chamber of the furnace, or other device, which may include an oil burner. The control 52 is connected to the circuit breaker 46. Thus,

'at the moment the thermostat 40 closes, current flows from the movable contact 50 of switch 52 through fixed contact 54, wire 56, heating coil 40 58, member 60 tocontact 62, which is contacting the contact .44 to complete the circuit by wire 42 through the secondary winding 36 of the transformer relay 26.- The oil burning apparatus is then started, as will be explained hereinafter. When the oil spray ignites, and the device is functioning properly, there is a generation of heat in the combustion chamber which affects the thermal responsive stack'switch 52. As the, temperature rises within the combustion chamber the coiled bimetallic element 64 of the stack control 52 distorts'and rotates the mechanism, which Practically simultaneously, the element concircuit includes a motor blower 18 to be controlled and capable of supplying an air and oil mixture to the burner. The motor-blower 18 may be of any familiar design- The motor 18 is connected to the power line 20 by a wire 82. The other motor connection is connected by a wire 80 to a fixed contact 11 of a magnetic switch 19. The switch 19 is provided with a movable bridging member 14 which is connected to a movable armature l2, associated with the transformer relay 26. The bridging member 14, when drawn upwardly by the armature l2, closes the circuit between the contact 11 and a second contact 16 which latter is connected by a wire 8! to the other side of the power line, namely main 22.

The functioning of the transformer 26 as a transformer and as a relay is explained as follows: When the secondary circuit is open, the flux set up by coil 24 travels down one leg, as 30, across the bar 34 up leg 32 to again retrace this path of movement. The primary 24 is drawing aninfinitesimal quantity of current from the line when the secondary circuit is deenergized. As soon as the secondary circuit 36 is completed by the closing of the thermostat 46, an induced current is set up in the secondary coil 36 which causes a flux movement independent of the primary flux, in the bar 34. The secondary flux J sive circuit breaker 46.

opposes the passage of the primary flux through the bar 34, so that the resultant flux path is to the lower part of the legs 30 and 32 which magnetically attracts the armature or bar 12 to form a retracing path of flux through the bar 12.

The breaking of secondary circuit- 36 by the opening of thermostat 48 breaks the secondary flux and reinstates the path of the primary flux in the bar 34 which path has lower reluctance than the path thru the armature 12, which allows the bar 12 to drop by gravity to open the switch l9 and break the electrical circuit of the motor l8.

The connnection between the circuit breaker 46 and stack control 52 is one of the features ,of my invention. The two coils 58 and '18 are included as integral parts of the thermal respon- The heaters 58 and 79 are in heat-transfer relation with a solder pot in the form of a ratchet 8 3. This ratchet is capable of rotation when its soldered mounting is fused. When the ratchet rotates it trips the member 86 to release the resilient member 68 which latter springs upwardly to separate the contacts 44 and 62, to break the circuit. The

for any.cause whatsoever, the movable element 50 of the stack control 52 remain in contact with contact 54 as there will be no heat to actuate the switch 52. Therefore, a circuit is maintained through the highresistance heater 58. If this heater 58 remains in the circuit a predetermined time period, it will fuse the solder to cause operation of the circuit breaker to separate contact 62 from 44 to break the secondary circuit. 'erative the circuit breaker will break the secondary circuit which reinstates the flux path through leg 34 of the transformer 26 and causes the armature 12 to drop, to open the switch 19 and break the motor circuit, de-energize the motor-blower l8 and stop the oil feed.

Ordinarily the fuel oil ignites and then the stack switch 52 operates to break the circuit through the heater 58 and connect the heater H! in circuit. Heater 18 is of such resistanceso as to keep the solder at a temperature below its melting, or fusing point, so that if a subsequent fuel failure should occur, heater 58 is again placed in the circuitand the additional heat radiatedwill quickly operate the breaker $6 witha minimum of time lag. Thus it is apparent that the circuit breaker is maintained in a condi- Thus, if the system is not op-' tion for quick operation at all times when there is a demand for heat.

Fig. 2 shows the same control circuit as previously described, but employing a modified type of circuit breaker generally indicated at 98. The circuit breaker consists of a thermostatic couple, 90, in the form of' thermostatic detent having two thermostatic elements 92 and 94.. Preferably the elements 92 and 94 are bimetallic strips that deform, when heated, in the direction of the arrows on the drawings, although any other thermostatic medium could be employed. In other words, the elements 92 and 94 are so disposed as to bend away from one another when heated. The two elements 92 and 94 are mounted at their lower ends to opposite sides of a block 96, of insulating material, by screws 98 and I00, respectively. The mounting on the block 96 provides a spacing between the elements. The strips 92 and 94 are bent toward one another at their upper ends so that they normally touch each other when at a set temperature. A link I92 is used to engage the two members 92 and 94 at their upper ends to present the separation of the members 92 and 94 when they are heated to different temperatures. The thermostatic element 92 has a latch M4 at its upper end that is disposed to engage a lever I06. The lever I96 is pivoted on a bearing I88 and is under the tension of a connected spring H8, when the lever I86 is engaged by the latch I94. The lever I06- also carries a bridging member H2 to bridge the contacts 44 and 88 when the lever I06 is in the engaged position with the latch 92. The contact 44 is connected by wire 42 to the secondary 38 of the transformer relay 26. The contact 88 is connected by a wire M4 to a heating resistance H6 wound around the thermostat 92 or otherwise disposed in heating relation with thethermostat 92. The resistance H6 is connected by a wire M8 to heating coils I28 and I22, respectively. The coils I20 and I22 are wound around, or otherwise suitably disposed adjacent the element 94. Heating coil or resistance I22 is connected by a wire 56 to the contact 54 of the stack switch 52, while coil I20 is connected by wire 68 to the contact 68 of the stack switch 52.

In the operation of the circuit, when the thermostat40 closes the secondary or control circuit, the stack switch is in the position shown by the drawings, namely, movable contact 50 -of thestack switch is in engagement with fixed contact This position completes. a circuit through.

54. wire 56, resistance coil I22, wire II6,resistance coil II6, wire II4, contact 88, bridging member II2, contact 44, wire 42, to thesecondary 36 of transformer 26 to complete the circuit. This .circuit, therefore, energizes the heaters H6 and I22. The heater I22 is a high resistant unit and capable of radiating more heat than the heater II6. This unequal. heat balance between the heaters H6 and I22 causes the thermostatic element 94 to exert a greater force in one direction than the element 92 exerts in the opposite direction. The resultant of these unequal and opposing forces is the deflection of the thermostatic couple 90 in the direction of element 94. This movement if allowed to continue, will disengage the latch I04 from the lever I06. However during normal operation the fuel supply ignites to supply heat' to the stack control, the switch 52 will break the circuit through coil I22 and make the circuit through coil I20, in the manner previously described, before the latch I 04 has be come disengaged from lever I06. If; however, the fuel does not ignite, the coil I22 will continue to be energized and, after a predetermined,

time, will cause the deflection of the thermostaticcouple 90 sufllciently to cause the latch I04 to disengage entirely from its engagement with lever I05, at which instant spring IIO pulls lever I06 downwardly to separate the bridging member II2 from the contacts 44 and 88 to break the circuit.

In normal operation, the fuel supply is ignitedthat it will trip the lever I06, quickly after failure of combustion, and the stack switch 52 will again make contact with contact 54 to energize the high resistance coil I22. In this manner, an appreciable time lag is eliminated and operation is obtained within a short time period after the stack switch 52 operates.

- setting is necessary to again A feature of the thermostatic compensator 90 is its resistance toward changes in environment temperatures.

Both thermostatic elements are subjected to the same environment temperature and therefore theopposing force changes are always proportioned to maintain the couple 90 in substantially the same position, regardless of ambient temperature changes. 1

( It is evident that in either of the modifications of the thermal responsive tripping device, that the double heater element may be replaced by a single element which has a connection, or tap at some point intermediate the ends thereof. This tap may be connected to one contact of the stack switch 52. Thus in effect, operation of the switch 52 would shunt out part of the resistance to change the heat output of the heater. This modification is entirely within the scope of my invention and the results obtained are analogous to the described results.

After any of the described types of circuit breakers have tripped, or operated,manual remake the system operative. 1 a I i Either of the aforementioned circuits may be 7 modified to include an intermittent ignition apparatus. Fig. 3 shows such a circuit, where the ignition apparatus is applied to the circuit generally described in Fig. 1.

This circuit utilizes a timing device in the form of a bimetallic control I26, which control includes a normally closed switch I28 in circuit with an ignition transformer I29, and a normally closed switchjl30 disposed in the secondary circuit of the transformer relay 26. The timing device I26 is actuated by a bimetallic element I34, whichelement is heated by resistance heater It is desirable to provide a holding circuit to shunt out the switch I30 when the system is operating properly. This holding circuit is completed by the closure of a switch I36 which is actuated by the movable armature I2 of the transformer relay. Thus when the armature is actuated, the switch .I36 closes simultaneously with the motor switch I9. In this manner the I holding circuit is established upon energization of the motor.

The circuit including switch I36 may be traced as follows; transformer relay secondary 36, wire 38, room thermostat 40, wire 46, resistance heater I32, wire 49, combustion control switch 52, circuit breaker 46, wire 42, switch' I to the secondary 36.. A secondary holding circuit is also provided .toshunt out theswitch I30. This circuit includes wire I50, switch I36, and wire I40. Thus when switch I36 is closed, due to completion of the secondary control circuit, the switch I30 is shunted out of the line and its control is replaced by the parallelly connected switch I36.

The primary ignition circuit includes wire I38 which is connected to one side of the line '20,

, primary I40 of the ignition transformer I29, switch I28, bimetallic member I34, wire I44.

switch I9, wire 8| to the other side of the line 22.

' Thus the initial energization of the ignition transformer is controlled by the motor switch 19. The

operation of this switch is in turn dependent on the secondary control circuit of the transformer relay 26. The secondary I of thelgnition transously initiatesoperation of the ignition transvformerand the fuel feeding device. Within the secondary circuit, the current induced passes through the resistance heater I32. The: heater affects the adjacent bimetallic member I34 and after a predetermined time interval themember I34 deflects sufllciently to successively open switches I30-and I28. It will be noted .that the opening of switch I23 is delayed due to the following action of the contact mounted on the spring member I21. As soon as this member has followed the deflection of the bimetallic element I34 through its limited span of movement the x contacts of switch I28 are opened to render the ignition device inoperative. Thus the ignition only at the initiation of each operating cycle.

It will also be noted that although the switch I30 has been opened by the deflection of the bimetallic element I34, that the secondary circuit device is operative for a predetermined period is maintained operative through the shunt holding circuit as completed through switch I36.

In order to maintain the system operative it is necessary to modify the combustion control 52, from the construction previously described, to

provide a constantly energized secondary circuit. In other words when the movable contact 50- snaps from contact 54 to contact 66 there is a momentary interruption of the circuit when using the control as shown in Fig. 1. This momentary interruption of current would cause the armature 12 to drop and break 'the holding circuit, and since the switch I30 has been opened as to assure a circuit therethrough during its I transition from one position to another. The specific structure disclosed need not be followed but any means of accomplishing a similar result may be used.

In case of current interruption due to power failure, the armature 12 drops down'to break the motor and holding circuits, which circuits cannot be remade until the control I28 is again in the starting position. This assures ignition whenever the motor blower starts to operate.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have provided a control system that is complete, both from an operation and a safety standpoint. The

system includes a secondary, or low voltage control circuit that eliminates arcing at the switch contacts,and obviates the necessity ofconduit wiring; it also includes a thermal responsive circuit breaker that is maintained heated and in constant position for operation when the fuel burner is inoperative and which circuit breaker is compensated' against voltage or ambient temperature variations to operate substantially within a given time period at all times. It further includes an intermittent ignition device in connection with a holding circuit which assuresignition at the start of each motor energization and which device provides a timing period of ignition.

While the forms of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adapted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:.

1. Afuel burning system comprising in combination, a fuel feeding device, an electrically operated switch for controlling said device, control means adapted to operate at a predetermined temperature to deenergize said device, a plurality of electrically operated heating means thermally associated with the control means, eachheating means adapted to be connected in series with said electrically operated switch, one of said heating means. when operative adapted to heat the control means to a temperature less than said predetermined temperature, another of said heating means being adapted to heat the control means to said predetermined temperature,'and means responsive to a condition of combustion for connecting one of said heating means vin series with the electrically operated switch and disconnecting the other of said heating means and responsive to a change in said combustion condition for disconnecting the said one heating means, and connecting the said other heating tion of the fuel burner; a thermal responsive control device adapted to operate at a predetermined temperature to render the burner inoperative; a pair of electrically operated heating means.

each adapted to be connected in series circuit with said electrically operated switch and thermally 7 associated with the said control device, one of said heating means, when energized, being operative to maintain said device at a temperature below the said predetermined temperature, and the other of the heating means when energized, being operative to heat the control device to the said predetermined temperature; and means responsive to combustion conditions for connecting one of said heating means in series circuit ..with said electrically operated switch and for disconnecting the other of the heating means.

3. A control system for combustion apparatus comprising; an electrically operated fuel feeding device; electrically operated means for controlling said device; "a control circuit for the electrically operated means; a normally closed switch in the control circuit; an ignition device forigniting the fuel; a timing device adapted to successively open the said switch and then render the ignition means inoperative after a predetermined, period of operation of the ignition means, said timing device being rendered operative substantially simultaneously with the energization of the fuel feeding device; a thermally responsive circuit.

breaker in the control circuit for opening the circuit when the circuit breaker is heated to a predetermined temperature; a pair of heating elements adapted to be connected in the control circuit and thermally associated with the circuit breaker, one or the said elements, when energized, maintaining the temperature, of the circuit breaker at a temperature below the said predetermined temperature, the other of said elements, when energized, being adapted to heat the circuit breaker to the said predetermined temperature; means responsive to combustion condtions for connecting one of the elements in the control circuit and substantially immediately thereafter disconnecting the other of the said elements from the control circuit; and means breaker; heating means for affecting operation of the circuit breaker; a pair of circuits for the heating means; switch means for connecting one of the said heating circuits and disconnecting the other of the said heating circuits in the control circuit in response to a condition of combustion, said switching means being adapted to maintain one of the heating means circuits connected in circuit until after the other of such circuits has been connected in the control cir- 10 for --maintaining said control circuit energized,

said switch being closed by the said electrically operated means; a thermal release switch adapted to control said control circuit, said thermal switch having a pair of heaters connected in the control circuit; means for connecting one of said heaters in the circuit and disconnecting the other heater in response to combustion; and means for maintaining said other heater in circuit until said one heater is connected in said circuit.

ESTEL c.. RANEY. 

